Algerian Radio
The curtain fell on Monday evening on the 6th edition of the Imedghassen International Film Festival, organized in the wilaya of Batna from May 5 to 11. The closing ceremony was held outdoors, adjacent to the archaeological site of the Numidian mausoleum of Imedghassen in the municipality of Boumia, attended by the Secretary General of the wilaya of Batna, a representative of the Italian Embassy in Algeria, artists from several participating countries, and an audience of cinema enthusiasts.
In a speech read on her behalf by the wilaya's Director of Culture, Amira Deliou, the Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, stated that hosting the closing ceremony in the immediate vicinity of the historical monument of Imedghassen "confers a special symbolic dimension to this edition." She emphasized that the festival's value "lies in the clear message it delivers, namely that culture, when linked to a place, to the people, and to history, is all the more authentic and capable of reaching hearts and minds."
Celebrating Italy as the guest of honor for this edition, the festival highlighted the rich Italian cinematic experience with the screening of the feature-length comedy Zamora. Projected at the "Aurès" cinema in Batna, the film, directed by and starring Neri Marcorè, is set in 1960s Milan. It tells the story of Walter Vismara, an accountant who moves to the city and is forced to play as a goalkeeper for his company's football team. Ironically nicknamed "Zamora" in reference to Ricardo Zamora, the legendary Spanish goalkeeper of the 1920s and 30s, the clumsy accountant faces the mockery of his teammates in a series of highly amusing comic scenes. Festival Commissioner Issam Taachit noted that this film was carefully selected among several feature films screened out of competition to honor Italian cinema.
Throughout the festival, local lovers of the seventh art were treated to a diverse selection of 50 films—including features, shorts, documentaries, and animated films—from 26 countries, such as Turkey, Palestine, Tunisia, Brazil, Germany, and Egypt.
Beyond the screenings, the festival served as a vibrant educational platform. Masterclasses were held covering topics such as "acting," led by Syrian artist Fayez Kazak; "directing," hosted by Algeria's Hadj Ali Menad; "documentary filmmaking," guided by Nigerien producer and director Aïcha Macki; and "cinema as an educational medium and tool for integration," supervised by Tunisian actor Khaled Bouzid.
Furthermore, training workshops were organized at the Mohamed-Laïd Al-Khalifa House of Culture for 60 young cinema enthusiasts hailing from several wilayas. Supervised by experienced specialists, these workshops focused on acting, directing, films produced using artificial intelligence, documentary filmmaking, and a short film script development laboratory (Lab Core).
Bridging the gap between cinema and local heritage, the festival also offered academics and specialists in history and archaeology the opportunity to highlight the historical significance of the royal Numidian mausoleum of Imedghassen—dating back to the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC—through a dedicated scientific study day. This cultural event was also punctuated by tourist excursions, allowing festival guests to discover several archaeological sites across the wilaya of Batna, including the ancient city of Thamugadi (Timgad).
Participants, including Saudi director Mohsen Ahmed and Egyptian filmmaker Marwa Ali El Sharkawy, praised the festival's richness, describing it as a vital "space for filmmakers, particularly the youth, to present their works and refine their experiences."
Festival Commissioner Issam Taachit concluded by emphasizing that the event successfully fulfilled its ambition to "encourage cinematic creativity, especially among the youth," and to create "bridges of communication between creators from Algeria and elsewhere, while promoting the rich cultural and tourist heritage of our country."
